Time delay relay



Dec. 5, 1939. c. M. LUBCKE 2,182,130

TIME DELAY RELAY Filed May 5, 193e ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 5, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TIME DELAY RELAY Application May 5, 1936, Serial No. 77,950

2 Claims.

This invention relates to time delay switches or relays, and it has reference more particularly to devices of that character that are especially suited for use in connection with the operation 5 of hot cathode luminous arc lamps and similar gaseous discharge devices, wherein it is desirable to bring the cathodes up to a certain degree of heat before applying the potential whereby the arc between electrodes is kindled; it being recognized that it is injurious to the cathodes to initiate an electrical discharge between them before they have had sulcient time to heat up.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a time delay relay that is extremely accurate with respect to its time interval; which is not affected by climatic conditions or temperature changes; which is inexpensive in construction, simple in detail and effective and eiiicient in its action.

A further object of the invention resides in the construction of and in the combination of parts, and in the method of use of the device, as will hereinafter be fully described.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein- The single view is a diagrammatic illustration of the present time delay relay, together with the electrical circuits whereby it is functionally connected with a luminous arc lamp.

It is to be understood that the present device, while herein illustrated in its connection with a luminous arc lamp, is adapted also to various other uses where time delayed action is desired; the combination herein illustrated being merely explanatory to the use of the relay, and it is not intended that the illustration shall in any way limit the use of the relay to lamps or similar devices.

Referring more in detail to the drawing- A source of electrical current is designated at S, from which supply lines 2 and 3 lead to a line switch 4 whereby circuit connection may be closed or opened with main lines 5 and 6, which supply current to the device under control.

The time delay relay embodied by the present invention is designated in its entirety at R, and

it comprises a solenoid coil I containing a movable plunger 8 to which a plurality of switch bars are fixed. In the present instance, the bars are designated, respectively, by the reference numerals 9, i0, II and I2, and it is to be understood that they are insulated from each other and from the plunger and move with the plunger under influence of the solenoid.

The switch bar 9, which is the lower one, as herein illustrated, is adapted in one position of the plunger 8, that is, the de-energized position 5 of the solenoid, to engage at its opposite ends with spaced contacts I3-l3, When the plunger is moved upwardly incident to energizing the solenoid coil '1, the bar 9 will likewise engage with spaced contacts I4-I4'. l0

The contacts I3 and I4' are both connected by wires, designated at I5, with the main line wire 5, while the contacts I4 and I3 are connected, respectively, by wires I5 and I'I with a switch contact I3 and a yieldably movable switch l5 lever I9; the latter being normally disengaged from the contact I8, but is movable thereagainst, by means presently described, to close a circuit connection between them.

The solenoid coil I has circuit connections 20 20 and 2I connecting its opposite ends, respectively, with the main line 6 and circuit wire I6.

Associated with the movable switch lever I9 is a revolubly mounted cam 25 on a revolubly driven gear 26t`i1at is operatively connected through a 25 speed reduction worm 21 on the driven shaft of an electric motor 28. The motor 28 has circuit connections 29 and 30, respectively, with the main line B and with the circuit wire I'I. Thus, with the closing of main switch 4, a circuit will 30 be closed through the motor 28, and the cam 25 will be rotated incident to energization of the motor. The motor circuit in this instance will flow from main line 6 through wire 29, motor 28, wire 3U, wire I1, contact I3, bar 9, contact 35 I3', Wire I5, to main line wire 5.

The cam. 25 has one or more lobes 25' projecting from its periphery and these are adapted, incident to rotation of the cam, to move into contact with the vlever I9 in a manner whereby 40 to move the lever outwardly against the stationary contact I8, thus to cause a circuit to be closed through the solenoid coil 1; the circuit flowing from main line 6 through wire 20, coil l, wire 2l, wire I6, contact I8, lever I9, wire I1, 45 contact I3, bar 9, contact I3 and wire I5, to line wire 5.

Incident to closing a circuit through the solenoid coil '1, the plunger 8 will be lifted, thereby causing bar 9 to break the circuit connection be- 50 tween the contacts I3 and I3 and immediately closing the connection between the contacts I4 and I4 by the bar 9. Thus, the current now flows through the coil 'I to retain the plunger 8 in its raised position; the current flowing from line 55 wire 6, through wire 25, coil l, wire 2|, wire 6, to contact -l, bar 9, contact 4 and wire 5, to main line wire 5. The current to the motor at this time ilows from line wire 5, through wire 29, motor 23, wire Sil, wire l, to lever 9, contact i8, wire i5, Contact ll, bar 9, contact I4', wire 5, to main line 5.

When the lever 9 is released incident to that movement of cam 25 which disengages the lobe 25 therefrom, the connection between the lever 9 and contact 8 is immediately broken. Therefore, the circuit connection for the motor 28: is opened and the cam stops rotating. The time interval between the time of closing the main switch Il and the energizing of the solenoid coil l' is determined by the cam action; that is, by its speed of rotation, the spacing of the lobes thereon, and the relation of the path of travel of the lobes to the switch lever 9, and these factors may be varied in accordance with the requirement for any special timing operation, as should be quite apparent.

For the purpose of illustrating the use of the present time delay relay, I have shown, in combination therewith, a hot cathode luminous arc tube 3@ provided within its opposite ends with electrodes .fil-3V. rIhese electrodes are connected, respectively, in circuit with the secondary coils {t2-32 of a transformer designated in its entirety at 33, the primary coil of which is connected in circuit with the line wires 5 and S by wires 35 and 36. Also, associated with the lamp is a power transformer designated at 45 having its secondary coil Ll connected, re-

spectively, by wires l2 and 43 with the electrodesk 3l and 3l and having its primary coil it connected by wires d5 and it, respectively, with line wires 5 and 5', which, through the relay, may be connected with the main line wires 5 and 5, as will now be described.

It will be observed that, adjacent the opposite ends of the cross bar l5, are contacts 55 and 5B. Likewise, adjacent the opposite ends of the cross bar li are contacts 5l and 5l. The line wires 5 and E connect, respectively, with the contacts 55 and 5i', and the wires 5 and 5 connect, respectively, with the contacts 5t! and 5l. The relationship of the cross bar 5 to the contacts Sii-5U', and the relationship of cross bar l to the contacts 5l-5, in each instance, is such that when the plunger 8 is in lowered position, that being the position it assumes when the coil 'l is deenergized, the circuit connections between wires 5 5 and 6 5, is open. However, upon energization of the coil l, and the lifting of plunger 8, the cross bars l@ and El are thereby brought into engagement with the paired contacts, and the circuits are closed. Thus, the energization of coil l moves the plunger to effect the closing of a circuit through the transformer lll to apply the operating potential to the lamp 35.

Assuming that the parts are assembled, and are electrically connected as shown in the drawing, and assuming also that the line switch di is open and that the position of the cam 25 is such that the switch lever 9 is disengaged from the Contact and that the cross bar 9 is engaged with contacts lt-l, and that the other cross bars are disengaged from their respective contacts, operation of the device would be as follows:

Upon closing the line switch El, the motor 23 is energized by reason of current owing from wire 5 through wire 29, motor 28, wire 3Q, wire Il, contact i3, bar 9, contact 3' and wire I5,

to the line wire 5, Also, upon closing the switch 4, .the transformer 33 is energized through the connections 35 and 35 and a heating current is caused to ow through the electrodes 3| and 3|'. After a predetermined time interval, a lobe 25 of the rotating cam 25, engages the lever 9 and moves lthe latter to close circuit connection between the contact I8 and lever I9; thereby energizing the coil 7, since current will then ow from line wire 5 through the wire 20, coil l, wire 2l, wire I6, contact 8, lever i9, wire Il, contact I3, bar 9, contact I3', wire i5, to line wire 5. Upon energization of the coil l, the plunger 3 is lifted, thereby causing the bars Ill and Il to engage their respective contacts, Sil-50' and 5|5|, thereby closing the circuit to the power transformer 4l), resulting in an application of operating potential to the electrodes 3|-3l of the lamp.

It is to be understood that when the cross bar 9, which operates as a double acting switch, is lifted by the plunger to engage with the contact lli- MQ the current is shunted around the timing switch and then flows from the line wire l5 through the coil l, wire 2l, contact 4, bar 9, contact M and wire l5, to the line wire 5, thus holding the plunger in raised position as long as switch d is closed. However, the motor circuit is shunted through the timing switch and the motor stops incident to opening of the circuit between contact its' and lever 9.

Upon opening line switch il, the solenoid l is de-energized and the plunger 3 drops to initial position, as seen in full lines in the drawing.

The cross bar 2 on the plunger 8 merely is to indicate the provision for closing of additional circuits by the action cf the timing means, and it is further apparent that other solenoids might be connected either in series or in parallel with that here shown for operation of additional switches.

Time delay switches of this kind have many uses. They are useful with any hot cathode tube having an oxide coating, and also are useful in radio receivers and in various other devices where one part is operated after a certain time interval with reference to the operation of another.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. In combination, main circuit lines, a line switch operable to connect the said main circuit lines with a source of current, a control switch for a device in the main circuit, a relay for actuation of the control switch having circuit connections at opposite sides, respectively, with the main circuit lines, a normally open timing switch in one of said connections, a normally open shunt connection across the timing switch, a double acting switch connected for actuation by the relay and normally positioned to complete the circuit connection between the timing switch and the corresponding main circuit line, and adapted, when actuated, to its other position, to open that connection and maintain the relay circuit through the shunt connection independently of the timing switch, an electrically operated timing mechanism having a circuit connection at one side with one of the main circuit lines, and having a circuit connection at the other side with the circuit connection between the timing switch and double acting switch, and adapted to be energized upon closing the line switch., means operable by the timing mechanism to close the timing switch to energize the relay, thereby to effect closing of the control switch and actuation of the double acting switch to close the shunt connection and divert the circuit of the timing mechanism through the timing switch.

2. The combination with lines of a main circuit and a control switch in the main circuit, of a relay for actuating the control switch between open and closed positions, and adapted, when energized, to retain the control switch in closed position, an electrically actuated timing device including a motor and a motor circuit connected across the main circuit, a primary and a shunt energizing circuit for the relay, each connected across the main circuit; said primary circuit including a normally open timing switch adapted to be closed and opened under control of the said timing device, and a double acting switch also connected with the said primary and shunt circuits and movable by the relay with the opening and closing movements of the control switch and adapted, in the open position of the control switch, to close the motor circuit to energize the timing device independently of the timing switch, and to place the primary circuit of the relay under control of the timing switch, and adapted, in the closed position of the control switch, to shunt the circuit of the relay through the said shunt circuit and to close the circuit of the motor through the timing switch whereby the relay will remain energized and the circuit of the timing device will be opened incident to opening of the timing switch.

CHARLES M. LUBCKE. 

